Penny Morduant Greater: Britain After the Storm

About

This talk is based on the book that won the parliamentary book award for best non-fiction book. It was described by Richard Branson as ‘utterly uplifting’. Boris Johson called it ‘invigorating’ and Tony Blair ‘highly readable’ and ‘interesting and enjoyable’ by Elton John.

We’re used to hearing that we live in an age of unprecedented division, that the great storms that have engulfed British politics over the past ten years have driven us further apart than ever, with no hope of finding common ground.

Penny Mordaunt disagrees. In this lively and insightful presentation, she argues that although differences of opinion are a natural part of healthy political debate, some of our current division is caused by a need for political reform. A wave of scandals have corroded public confidence in leadership in all walks of life, fuelled by a hyper-individualistic social media landscape – but by rebuilding public trust we can restore national pride and positive, competent politics.

This talk lays out a plan for Britain. Delving into our history, our institutions and our culture, it explains how we arrived at this point and how the British character points the way towards practical national missions.
It explores Britain’s role in the world and how to balance global and local priorities; makes the case for the United Kingdom based on the mutuality that binds us; and calls for modernising reform in politics, government and markets. It describes the role of social media in culture wars and calls for a relentless focus on aspiration and a social enterprise revolution. Above all, it reminds us of the many reasons we have to be optimistic.

Penny Mordaunt was the UK Member of Parliament for Portsmouth North. She is a former Secretary of State for Defence and for International Development and a governor at the World Bank. She served as an officer in the Royal Naval Reserve and is now Honorary Commander of 2nd Mine Countermeasures Squadron. Before her election, her career spanned the public, voluntary and private sector.

A Q&A Session will follow.